Installation

And I have just installed a new version of Firefox.exe, a 4 beta

Up

Still reading Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and was nearly crying at it s'morning

Whoops

Then David and I have fallen out big style. He has dropped me off here, without coming in, and gone home, back to Belfast in't morning

I felt the need to say "Stop telling me what to do" and he flew off the handle

And

I have just exchanged some txts with David and he is busy in town, he will see me about 2.30(1) and we will piss about etc. I need a lift to the barbers, he agreed.

(1) About the same time a Chinese person goes to the dentist.
Tooth hurty..... (C) David

Up

So I woke up at about 7 s'morning, lay in bed being bored, then got up about a quarter too so that by 8 o'clock I had finished pitting on my boots and splint etc and could go about my business

Charidy Shop

And me and my brother were looking at books in another charity shop today, and we bought another one. For 50p

Mae Wedi Gorffen

And yesterday I had just finished reading Neill and Sumerhill by John Walmsley. Day before I went to bed thinking "just 1 more chapter" couldn't stop reading, it was an inspiration. Reading, it is quite good, innit

More Practice

Earlier on today I took a pic of a car with a www advert on it which I was able to use as another practice, and it seemed easier now, so my last practice obviously worked

Surprise

And today (and tomorrow too, apparently) my big brother showed up to visit me, we went out for a drive about which filled me with tears then for a meal in t'hotel which was very nice.
When we were out I carried Peter The Teddy in my pocket and gave him some dinner too

Not At Hospital

So today I am not at Priory Day Hospital as I cancelled it because I had a meeting. Which has been rescheduled but they couldn't change my Physio back, so next Friday I will go and finish off my treatment

Fixed

So this morning some bells arrived, with attached ribbons. I tried and tried couldn't attach then so I had to ask a MOS for some help. I gave her my hat, a bell and a small screwdriver. In about 30 seconds she was able to fix it

Supper Party

Then we went along to Flat Number 5 where the chap who lives there was having a party for his birthday, cake and eats etc

Wedi Gorfen

And today I have just finished reading Out of Silence by Mary
Sorrell and I am reasonable proud that I stuck with
it from chapter 1 to page 126. Reading, it is quite good, innit

Walkies

Well, I am walking again s'morning....

ETB, ETR....

Went to bed about midnight or thereabouts, actually slept some and woke up/got up at 7 AM

Rough

So last night I actually know that I slept for a few hours. And I feel as rough as a badger now, flipping exhausted. So sleep is bad for me?

PDH

Well I was at Priory s'morning. Yes it was hard work, yes it hurt etc etc. My instructor spent some time while I was exercising telling other staff how much I have come on in a few weeks. Etc. Then after lunch I waited..... and waited..... and waited for ages to get a lift home

While I was there I tried to get next weeks session shifted to this week, originally I had other stuff happening but not now, and he made a few phone calls and said "No, NCD, too short notice" so I won't be there for ten days now, then I will finish my course

Evening

Then later today my beautiful daughter came to see..... my pc, I hardly got a glance, but it was still good to see her

It's back

For a couple of hours the interweb was still working but my website just came up as blank pages. Classic FTP still won't work but at least my website is up again

And Classic FTP works now,

phew

Fixed It

Well the man came round this morning and in 5 minutes he had fixed my cupboard door

BB, CC, BB, WW

Gosh, yesterday seemed really hectic, I still am not ready to sleep but it seems finished IYSWIM

Headway

Then we went to Headway for the first time since November. There was a Dr talking a lot of sense there. From his description of his past I am very glad that I didn't have my BI 30 years ago, 'cos then I would have been abandoned as f*cked. Then we had a raffle and unexpectedly I won a prize!!!

Dinner

Then Jackie came up to my room and cooked as a lesson to me, she brought the tin of mixed beans and some other stuff, I provided a tin of tomatoes, a big piece of broccoli and some Cous Cous and it was delicious, Jackie will write me a full recipe tomorrow so I can use it as a base for my food

L8R

And in a bit I am off to the supermarket to do my weeks shopping

Blinkin' flip, I was in Morrisons and someone walked past the other way, I didn't quite recognise her but felt a bit odd. Next aisle she came past again and I had to say "Excuse me, do I remember you from about 10 years ago?". She looked at me..... and said "Where from?". I said "Ah, sh*t..... Glynabbey?" She said "Yes, what's your name?". I said "Neil" and she said "Oh my god, yes, hello" She had heard that I couldn't walk or speak etc when I was in hospital and nowt since, so she was really pleased to see me. I was pleased to speak to her for 10 minutes and more pleased that some of my memory is obviously coming back.

Gosh and BTW the shopping went well, I bought a snack that I haven't had for 8 years for lunch etc

Sleep Is For The Weak

Well, I don't think I went to sleep last night, I think I was awake all the time...

Evening

Then for dinner I had half a Pizza that Jackie had left in my freezer s'morning and some oven chips, she also had half the Pizza she had bought and some oven chips which I had. It was strange having pre-made Pizza, like "normal" because for ages I have only had the ones I make

Sunday Walkies

So this morning I got up, walked into the kitchen etc, didn't sit in my 'chair 'til after lunchtime

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Well, it is Sunday today......

Busy

So s'morning I went off with Jackie along the A40 to Llandeilo, stopping at various "Neil's memory" places on the way, pottered about there, went into a Charity Shop etc. Went into the Country Park, Gelli Aur, where I used to go to college and do voluntary work, when coming back on the B4330(?) - the Old A40. Gosh I felt knackered when we came back, it's obviously hard work being.... proper

Even Later

Later Denyse my key worker came to see me and gosh we talked about loadsa stuff, about how I need to get a life etc. OK first we did a "Job advert and job description for my support worker" so it felt really strange to be on that side of the bridge as it were. As well we "Arranged to meet Sarah, an Occupational Therapist recommended by D". Then we arranged "We are going to voluntary placement in Bridgend"

It sounds like not much here but good lord, I am flipping exhausted after that

Later

Then a beautiful woman came...... (No Neil, she reads your BLOG, just shh)

Day Hospital

So I went to Priory s'morning, waited there 'til lunchtime, he then came and took me for Physio then I came back and had my lunch while everyone else had finished their pudding.

Again it hurt, but no pain no gain as they say

G*d

So I got well stuck into my new book today and while it is interesting she hasn't had the disaster yet but said that she loves that J*sus creep about three times on every page. Ho hum, I will try some more later and she if she starts talking more sensibly. As I believe it

Well yes, phew, she has now had her bleeding brain disaster and only mentions J*sus every dozen pages or so, gosh it is interesting. As of now she is much iller but if she got well enough to write a short book it is very impressive.

Underline

And I was looking again how to make my links in my BLOG underlined, eventually I found summat which was describing how to change the txt to "none" so I did what it suggested (a bit scary I don't usually get into code) but I did what it suggested except I changed "none" to "underline"

And I seem to have found out how to make my message filters work again, so phew for that too

Worn Off

Well, my gums, lips and teeth feel as good as normal now. Gosh I have been so busy, first of all with that Sam then trying to cook for dinner, which still isn't flipping ready, so I have just forgotten that I was in the dentists chair s'morning

Longer Term

And then WOW that Sam came too visit me. He brought Peter The Teddy back, he had been on holiday there for a few days, he brought me a book which he thought I might like, which I do BTW, he brought me a hat which they found in their clear out of moving..... just WOW

Memory

Now as I had deleted the thingy on here s'morning I only knew that the taxi was booked. I got in the taxi, he said "Where to?" I said "Dentist, Pond St" which I didn't have written down anywhere but I remembered. My short term memory is improving

Dentist

And I went to the dentist s'morning, it didn't hurt but my mouth feels really strange until the anaesthetic wears off

COSHH

So someone told me yesterday that I had a new COSHH report for here, and I recalled it must stand for Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health

Bit Pissed Off

So here I am, getting better by all accounts but I feel trapped here, no by passers, nowt but patients and staff

Owners

And Family Housing have just phoned me and asked if they could come on Friday to mend my kitchen cupboard, I said no, at the hospital they then said "Tuesday?", I said "Yes" so they will be here between 9 and 1 next Tuesday

PDH

So had my first session at the Priory Day Hospital since Chr^hHeathenmas. It fekt really strange being back, as usual I went on my 'chair, parked it inside and walked 'til I left. I said that "No can do" for my last session on 14th as visitors coming here, they said "OK, come the next Friday instead" and phoned to book transport etc. And yes, it was hard work as I haven't been exercising enough but it went well, no pain no gain

BT

So tonight I went outside my house with my BT landline phone in my pocket(1). I went 20 yds away and tried to phone my mobile, then the rest of the way along, another 4 flats and my mobile still went "Bring, bring" when I pressed my Landline

(1) OK, in my bumbag

Longer Term

Then an hour after they both left Freya came back. Looking very groovy in her new pretend leather jacket.

Teddy Bear

Sam popped in briefly today and he said "Sorry for telling you that we hadn't stolen your teddy, I found it at the bottom of a bag of pressies last night"

Walkies

OK, so I now have a (re)new(ed) habit. I got up s'morning and walked into the kitchen, I didn't sit in my wheelchair until after lunch

Whiskey Mac

And I have been looking for Stones Ginger Wine in Morrisons every week for ages to no avail, last week visitors came and gave me a bottle for Christmas which, apparently, they had bought in Morrisons in Llanelli, so I knew they should have some but I couldn't find it, so today I was there and I asked for some help, he said "Dunno, hang on" went and asked someone else so I was able to spend far too much money on Whiskey and Ginger Wine

Made Me Think

And while I was at the supermarket this morning I saw a three wheeled motorcycle parked there, it was the first that I have seen in the flesh and it got me thinking, perhaps in the future.....

Found It

So tonight I wrote a "Thank you for the Christmas card" letter to Steph. Then I thought "I do have some stamps somewhere, I remember". So I looked in all 3 drawers in the desk. To no avail. Then I, beginning to panic, looked in other drawers. Still nowt. Then I looked much more carefully through all 3 of the desk drawers, taking loadsa stuff out etc. Still no. I was just about to press the buzzer and shout "HELP" when I thought "I know they are not in the main pockets in my bum bag, but what about that obscure pocket that I haven't used for months?". Yes, how sad, they were there, so I didn't need to ask for help at all

Walkies

So for some months (or years) when I have been walking my right foot moves forward properly but my left foot stops on a level with my other foot, because there is an issue with my right foot bending to allow it forward. But today if I can put up with feeling scared etc both my feet move forward properly. If I am walking on a level surface. If it is uphill I can do it sometimes but it is much harder, if it is downhill it won't go at all. But still progress, better walking than a few days ago

AND a (beautiful) MOS said "Try it with your 'stick", which I objected to as I am trying to learn to walk without my 'stick but it made such a difference. So I was able to walk up and downhill with both my legs moving forward etc

But as I did it I realised that when my right leg moves forward my left foot is flat on the ground but when my left leg moves forward my right heel leaves the ground slightly

& At 'Em

Yes.....

Very Strange

This was an odd event today

Well Done

Just now I was trying to put a book on the top shelf of my bookshelf. I had to stand up and, more to the point, hold the books out of the way with my left hand while I used my right hand to lift up the book.

Happy

Happy New Year (Noisy)

Dinner

And tonight I was invited down to no 7 for a dinner, there was loads of roasted veggie stuff, hummus, salad, it was delicious, and I took a hip flask full of Whiskey Mac with me, even nicer

Aardvark

I asked a MOS s'morning if anyone was going to town. He said "Yes AJ is going to Aardvark". Which made me very happy on two fronts, 1) It's just around the corner from Sheffield House which is where I was gonna try and send a MOS if they were going into Carmarthen at all, and 2) I said to her that I used to work there ages ago so please say "If anyone remembers him that Neil says hello"

And she did, so I was able to stick up various calendars and pics of Freya and the kids. Then I figured out how to make 4 or 5 pictures into an animated gif which looks impressive on a web page

Gosh

Gosh I have been "out" since just after lunch, to No. 7. I only went 'cos I had heard about a cake (which was nice) then I had a glass of Baileys which was very good

Mile

So just now I went outside and was walking up and down without my 'stick on this path. I had up and downed a few times when a MOS walked past, I asked him "How many KM in a mile?", he got out his diary, while I carried on walking, when I got back he said "1.60summat" so I carried on walking until at last I had walked without holding anything 1.625 kilometers. So I walked a mile without my walking stick

Visitors

Then later this morning more visitors came to see me, Brian and Rita, Julia's parents. It was a bit strange but well OK, they were talking about how I was when I first had the accident and when I first came out of hospital and how I am now etc which was a bit upsetting but reassuring too.

And for a Xmas present from them first of all I opened a half bottle of whiskey, thought "Oh.... erm... thanks" opened my second present and it was a bottle of Ginger Wine. So combine the 2 together and it will make a Whiskey Mac. VBG

I commented how I used to think Julia was very beautiful but looking at Rita I can see where she got it from!!

Up

And at 'em again, 8.30ish AM

See me

Then later today all my kids came and had dinner, all of them. It was the most I have had sat this dining table, ever

Post Mortem

It occurred to me while at my sisters summat came on't telly saying "post mortem" and I thought "What a sh*t job, looking at bodies" etc

Gossip

While I was staying at Carly's I felt that her loo was much too low, if you are sitting down to pooh it proved really difficult to stand back up, I had to pull on the sink and the door handle but I managed in the end.

But on the way up I went to the loo before leaving then didn't need to go again until we were 3 countries away, so obviously summat is getting better

Slept

Well I slept last night so at a guess I am a bit better today. This afternoon my 3 kids are coming together and I will try to cook us all food etc.

Weary

Gosh I am worn out/knackered. Today we travelled back in another aeroplane this time to Cardiff, then an hour and a half rest of the way back. So far I have eaten my dinner and put pics together in web pages, I hope they are lovely but I am now too tired to do owt else 'til tomorrow

More Xmas

Then as no-one here gave me any presents but I got some anyway so that Santa must exist.

We hung about talking and drinking red wine and did not much else. BTW I was the master of ceremonies

Happy Christmas

Good lord, at my sisters house and I have been sitting on the PC for long enough to actually do stuff like this so....

We had a really long drive t'other day to Bristol to t'airport they scooped me up in ambilift in my wheelchair then I had to walk 10 paces without my 'stick to sit down. We had a briefish flight to Glasgow where we were met by my brother=in-law and taken to his house.

We had loads more adventures, me, my little brother, my Mum and Dad, and my b-I-l's Mum. I will have to tell u more later but for now there is a que for the 'puter

Heathenmas

Well, Happy Heathenmas to one and all

Not Strong Enuf

Last night I was sitting outside for a bit, it was chilly so I tried to stick my hands up the opposite sleeve. Left hand no problem, right hand couldn't do it. It was a combination of not being able to move it round and, majorly, not being strong enuf to maske the elasticated cuff move out of the way.

Seagulls

Jonathan Livingston, I got it for Chrimbly. I last read it about 20 years ago and I had forgotten, but WOW how cool, and I am a bit jealous

Visitors

Then after lunch my Dad and little brother came over to see me, we didn't do much except taking a few photos and then went out for a lovely meal. They are gonna have to take me away in't morning tomorrow, so see you when I get back

'Puter Woes

Then today suddenly my computer stopped being able to look at interweb sites, it just didn't work. I thought "Oh woe" but suddenly a load of email arrived so I knew it was still connected. I restarted Firefox, it still wouldn't work, so I restarted the whole PC. Now it works perfectly again, email and www access. (shrug)

I was so excited that I woke up

Very early s'morning, lay there for a bit then got up too very early

Because my Dad and Brother are coming over today to take me to Scotland tomorrow, to my sisters house, for Chrimbly. Then when I come back it should be much warmer again, just proper cold December temperatures

Strange Memory

So I went outside today, I was looking around and in my head was a song, oh dear, my memory is getting better

Aargh

So yesterday someone phoned me and told me that the Ambulance wasn't coming s'morning to take me to Priory. After I had set my alarm clock and I forgot to unset it. So I got up early s'morning, went out with my thermometer and it said nearly minus eight degrees, yes, it was very cold

Double Take

This afternoon someone knocked on the door, I thought "Too early to be Freya", went and answered it and it was my big 19 year old son who has been in Manchester for months. Later Freya came too, I saw them both!!

Priory Off

Someone phoned me just as my dinner was ready and told me that there will be no ambulance coming for me tomorrow, so I'll see them at Priory Day Hospital in the new year

Walkies

So today I walked outside, with no walking stick some 165 feet, or just over 50m which I measured

AND today I managed 100m, 328 ft stickless

Sand Witch

So since ages ago I have had a sandwich for lunch followed by a plate of salad. But today I was sat at't table, put peanut butter and jam on my pieces of bread, put some salad on it then made it into a sandwich. Mmmmm, I haven't eaten like that for a number of years

Posty

And the posty made it today, apparently this street is one of the worst so..... I got my compass and my 2nd pair of long johns so phew

Blue Badge

Well today the postman managed to make it to here and he delivered my Blue Badge for parking, so now I can park on double yellow lines if I need to etc

Phew

I am just relieved that today I got up, had breakfast, sat in front of my PC and it just seems to be all working, no crises, today

Bright &.....

Dunno woke up at about 6.40 s'morning and was up and at 'em by 7

Gosh

Abnd some of the staff are staying here because the roads are so shit, better to have someone in't morning

No webspace

And it sez my web space has been suspended but there is no-one answering phonecalls until 9AM tomorrow

Hah, phew it works now

(Hooray)

Oops

And because I had put a plate with some water on it on t'table in my back yard for the birds to drink from it had snowed a cm last night so it was frozen to the table, I had to get a MOS to help me free it so I could wash it and put it away again

Snow

So everything is stuck, some staff are off etc because of the snow. But we are lucky. Many people in other places in the country have had more than a foot of snow, but we have only had 2 inches. I dunno what would happen if that much fell here.....

Sorry, I have had 2 or 3 cm of snow, they have had half a meter or more

& At 'Em

So I woke up s'morning, all clad in my splint for my arm etc. I thought "What time is it?", looked at my watch, I read 11.35AM, thought "Oh no!", got up and went and had my brekky. Then I looked at my watch again, this time it said 8.50AM. So dunno if I can't read it properly first thing or what

Marginally Aprehensive

And I am a bit scared, I am supposed to go off in an Ambyvan to Priory Day Hospital soon.....

And after the Ambyvan was an hour late coming here I phoned Priory and said I was too scared to leave here so could they phone the ambulance supplier and tell them not to worry today....

And she said "Don't worry, no ambulances today" so....

Sigh

So I went to bed about 12.30 last night and got up s'morning an hour before my alarm clock goes off at about 6.30. Hah, sleep is for the weak!! Or summat.....

Aargh, there is more of that slippery underfoot cold stuff now too....

Tai Chi

And I was supposed to be going to a Tai Chi class this evening to have a look and see if I think I might be able to do "stuff" there in order to speed up this getting better thing but it is way too supposed to be snowing in an hour or 2 so we decided "Nah, lets go after Christmas"

And the weather forecast said it was gonna snow outrageously now, but it's not saying that any more

New Toys

So this morning I received my new free bus pass. So I will have to go with a \MOS the first few times until I am used to it, but hopefully it will be good

I also got s'morning a letter from the DVLA telling me to make an appointment with a doctor miles away to test my driving skills.

So neither of these were the groovy letter I was hoping for but a load of "important stuff" too

T-Shirt

And I purchased a new T-shirt 'cos the message attracted me

Physio

And we did my Physio and impressed him with how well I am doing etc

& at 'em

Well I got up early to wait for my ambultransport. I could have had a lie in, it's still not here

Yes, I was sitting outside, I had just taken my phone out and was looking for Ambulance Transport when she came, said sorry etc. She had had a) an emergency to deal with and b) an out of date SatNav which didn't know where I lived

Visitor

After worrying most of't morning my visitor came to see me this afternoon, it kind of was better than I had been worrying etc...... It does my head in having visitors when I am this flipped, but......

Pain(t)

And someone reminded me t'other day that one of my paintings was done with her feet by a sufferer who couldn't use her hands

WOW walkies

And a walking track that I have managed twice in the past I did 3 today, with no walking stick

And we found a measuring tape this evening, it is 10 meters each way so a total of 60m (or 65 yds)

Tired

Gosh yes, I was so tired yesterday that I didn't go to bed until about 2.10AM and still woke up at 9.15 s'morning

Lord

Lord what a hectic day so far. I got up s'morning, was half way through my brekky when my phone rang, it was the professor who was due in at 10.30 today, he said "Sorry, I am a bit early as I hadn't explored, so can I come and see you now?" After I had finished my muesli I opened the front door, and there he was. We didn't talk about much 'til my father got here at 10 o'clock. Then he was saying how surprising it is to him to meet me, the medical notes said I was f*cked but then he met me and appreciated how much my perseverance can do.

Then me and Dad went and had lunch in Carmarthen, then we went to look for Lidl, my Dad went in and asked for a bottle of Whiskey Mac they said "Not here", I phoned J again and she told me Aldi which neither of us had ever seen so went on to Morrisons and spent loads on food etc. Then when I was back, my Dad had gone to town for a smoke alarm I looked on line, my Dad came back and I have sent him off to Stephens Way to try to buy some now

Then I went out and had dinner in Dad's hotel which was lovely, but I am exhausted